• IPA: /meɪt/

From Middle English mate, a borrowing from Middle Low German mate (replacing Middle English mette, from Old English ġemetta), derived from Proto-Germanic *gamatjô, itself from *ga- (related to German - and Dutch ge-) + *matjô (from *matiz), related to Old English mete).

mate (plural mates)

1. A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.

   Synonyms: fellow, fere

2. (especially of a non-human animal) A breeding partner.
3. (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, sometimes elsewhere in the Commonwealth) A friend, usually of the same sex.

   Synonyms: friend, buddy, Thesaurus:friend

   I'm going to the pub with a few mates.

   He's my best mate.

4. (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, sometimes elsewhere in the Commonwealth) Friendly term of address to a stranger, usually male, of similar age.

   Synonyms: buddy

   Excuse me, mate, have you got the time?

5. (nautical) In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. Boatswain's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
6. (nautical) A ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
7. (nautical) A first mate.
8. A technical assistant in certain trades (e.g. gasfitter's mate, plumber's mate); sometimes an apprentice.
9. The other member of a matched pair of objects.

   I found one of the socks I wanted to wear, but I couldn't find its mate.

10. A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗:

      Ye knew me once no mate / For you; there sitting where you durst not soar.

• Italian: copulatore, riproduttore
• Portuguese: parceiro, parceira, parceiros, parceiras
• Russian: па́ра
• Spanish: pareja

• German: Gegenstück
• Spanish: compañero

• German: Maat
• Italian: secondo, ufficiale in seconda

• Russian: помощник капитана

• Italian: aiutante, assistente

• French: copain, camarade
• German: (colloquial) Kumpel, Kollege (colloquial), Freund
• Italian: compagno, amico, camerata
• Portuguese: mano, camarada, cara, chapa
• Russian: това́рищ
• Spanish: mano, colega

• German: Kollege
• Italian: socio, membro, affiliato
• Portuguese: colega
• Russian: това́рищ
• Spanish: socio, compañero

mate (mates, present participle mating; simple past and past participle mated)

1. (intransitive) To match, fit together without space between.

   Synonyms: match, couple, pair

   The pieces of the puzzle mate perfectly.

2. (intransitive) To copulate.

   Synonyms: couple, Thesaurus:copulate

3. (intransitive) To pair in order to raise offspring.
4. (transitive) To arrange in matched pairs.
5. (transitive) To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
6. (transitive, of an animal) To copulate with.
7. (transitive) To marry; to match (a person).
   • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act I, scene i]:

     If she be mated with an equal husband.

8. (transitive, obsolete) To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
   • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Death”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC ↗:

     There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death.

   • 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:

     I, […] in the way of loyalty and truth, […] / Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be.

9. (transitive) To fit (objects) together without space between.
10. (intransitive) To come together as companions, comrades, partners, etc.
11. (transitive, aerospace) To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.

    Antonyms: demate

• French: s'accoupler
• German: sich paaren
• Italian: copulare, accoppiarsi, fare l'amore, fornicare, montare
• Portuguese: acasalar
• Russian: спа́риваться
• Spanish: aparearse

• Italian: accoppiare
• Russian: спа́ривать

• Portuguese: emparelhar

From Middle English verb maten, from Middle French mater, from Old French - noun mat, from Persian شاه مات.

mate (plural mates)

1. (chess) Clip of checkmate

mate (mates, present participle mating; simple past and past participle mated)

1. (chess) Clip of checkmate

• Russian: поставить мат

From Middle English maten, from Old French mater, from Vulgar Latin *mattō, of unclear origin.

mate (mates, present participle mating; simple past and past participle mated)

1. (obsolete) To confuse; to confound.
   • c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act V, scene i]:

     I think you are all mated, or stark mad.

See maté.

mate (plural mates)

1. Alternative spelling of maté, an aromatic tea-like drink prepared from the holly yerba maté (Ilex paraguariensis).
2. The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea